WHY IS MOLD A PROBLEM TODAY?
Mold has been receiving a lot of attention due to the vast amounts of sickness and lawsuits that have been created. But, mold has just not started to cause problems today. Mold has been documented as causes of the Ergot Epidemic that affected Europe for 500 years due to mold-induced food poisoning. and the Irish Potato Famine where mold killed the plants that provided food. Mold has been documented even back as far as the bible. Leviticus chapter 14: 39-47. Since the 1970’s, when there was a shortage of oil. home construction has changed dramatically. It is now common practice to heavily insulate homes, wrap the exterior with a vapor barrier, and create less ventilation from the outside air. This can cause the potential for mold growth if there is a water event. According to statistics from the Bureau of the Census. 35% of homes are damaged due to water or moisture yearly. With the wood. cellulose. and other organic materials used in buildings, this now provides a fertile platform for mold.

What is Mold?
Mold is simply a fungus. Like another fungus, the mushroom. there are good molds and bad molds. Some molds are used in making antibiotics beer, and cheese. while other types can be toxic and cause negatrve health effects. But, the main purpose of mold is to break down dead materrals, like wood and fiber that are used in building materials. Mold growth can start as soon as 2+ hours after a water event has occurred. Mold can often be seen in the form of a discoloration or a stain. When molds are present in large quantities called colonies, they become a health concern. Molds are divided into 3 basic groups based on health effects: Allergenic, Pathogenk. and Toxic. Allergenic molds can "use allergic symptoms such as wheezing or a runny nose. Pathogenic molds can "use suppressed immune systems. or serious health effects in a person who already has a decreased immune system. Toxic molds can "use serious health effects in almost everyone. These effects may be short-term irritations to even cancer.

What do I do now?
Environmental Solutions Assocration realize the problems that are faced by the realtors, home owners. and home buyers, and have set standards and protocols for mold inspections. There are 5 levels of inspection services that are offered by the CERTIFIED MOLD INSPECTOR Contact Blue Ridge Home Inspection to find out about these services.

Levels of Inspection Service

The 5 levels of inspections services that have been formed, are endorsed by ESA and are used in the mold inspection standards and protocols used by the certified mold inspector. These services range from a inspection that is requested in a specific client defined area, to a inspection that can produce mold remedrabon specifcations*. All of the services have a clear understanding and written explanation. within the inspection agreement, of what will be inspected.

1. Limited Sampling: The purpose of Limited Mold Sampling is to detect the presence of mold contamination in client defined areas of the home. This service provides a fast economical method to determine if and what type of molds are in that defined area The limitations of this service are that other sources of mold may be present in the home.

2. Mold Screen: This level of inspection utilizes a visual assessment of the entire home. identifies "red flags' for mold. and a limited sampling for mold If "red flags- are found the client will be advised and offered the chance for additional sampling. The Mold Screen Inspection is the most popular inspection service for home sale transactions.

3. Mold Survey: The value of this service is that it identifies, determines cause and provides corrective measures for all mold sources discovered in the entire home. This service is mainly used once a problem has been identified and remediation specifications are needed to be produced by the Certified Industrial Hygienist.

4. Clearance Testing: Clearance Testing is designed to determine the success of remediation efforts. A containment area has been established and remediation was done with in that contained area

5. Post-Cleaning Testing: Post-Cleaning Testing is also designed to determine the success d remediation efforts The difference between Clearance and Post-Cleaning
Testing is no containment will be in place.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What kind of mold is in my house?
Is it toxic mold?
Mold cannot be identified by sight and there are thousands of species of mold. My job is the first step, which is to collect samples and have the lab analyze them.

How did the mold get in my house?
Mold is everywhere and is not uncommon to find in a home. It enters the house through openings or heating, and mold spores attach to people and animals, bringing mold indoors.

Where does mold grow?
Mold will grow in places whffe leakage may have occussed. Many building materials can encourge mold growth once they have become wet.

How can I tell if there is mold in my home?
Some mold problems are obvious, you will see it. Other mold problems may be identified by "red flags" such as a musty smell or visible water stains.

Can I stop mold from growing in my home?
Look for visible signs of water damage or heavy moisture problems. Have these sources of water Intrusion corrected and this will lessen the chances for mold growth. Mold activity can occur as soon as 24 hours after a water loss.

How do you test for mold?
There are 2 typical methods of testing for mold. One is air sampling where air samples are taken inside the home and outside for compassion to detect a problem. The other is a swab sample of the visible mold or stain to determine the type of mold.